A Forum for Orthodox Jewish thought on Halacha, Hashkafa, and the social issues of our time.

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Religious Extremism in the Holy Land

Rav Shteinman - Photo credit: YWN

Extremism in
the defense of Torah is no vice. This is a turn on a phrase popularized back in
1964 by Barry Goldwater, a politically conservative Republican when he ran for
President against Lyndon Johnson.

Of course he did not say Torah. He said
liberty. But the principle is the same. If one believes in their principles one
may go to extremes in fighting for them. Nowhere is this principle more
followed than in Israel. And there is no more religiously conservative (small ‘c’) group than the
Charedi world there.

One might argue that indeed! …fighting for one’s
principles is the right thing to do. Normally I would agree. Except when those
principles end up hurting others. When that happens one has to weigh the value of the principle versus the hurtful result and see if it is still worth
fighting for.The hurt fighting for a principle might cause may be a far
greater wrong. In essence you
end up violating other more important principles than those you are fighting for.

In
Israel it appears that there is no such consideration. The principle one is fighting
for supersedes all other considerations. Especially in the Charedi world. I see
it all the time. The rhetoric in support of certain goals by even rabbinic leaders is
so hyperbolic that it hurts innocent people. If they were just touting the
righteousness of their position, it would be one thing. I would support their
right to espouse their views as strongly as possible. But they don’t stop with just promoting their point of view. They villainize their opposition in the extreme.

This is how for example
they have been treating the issue of drafting Charedim. Condemnations will include phrases include ‘Shas HaShmad’ (a time of forced conversion away
from Judaism). It will include hyperbolic statements like telling all Kipa
Seruga wearers that they have lost their portion in the world to come. Or that
one is worthy of the death penalty if they do not vote a certain way... There
are many such statements by rabbinic leaders, their representatives in
government, and their media people.

The hurt this attitude inflicts upon their targets is apparently
irrelevant. The main thing is standing up for
principle. Which is why even Charedi Gedolim can be dishonored in major ways by
other Charedim when prinicple is at stake. Extremism in the defense of Torah begets even more extremism. From
YWN:

HaGaon HaRav Aaron Yehuda Leib Shteinman Shlita was in the
midst of giving a shiur in his home. The avreich got up and began yelling at
Rav Shteinman to “change your hashkafa and return to the correct derech.” There
are conflicting reports if the assailant succeeded in slapping and/or punching
the gadol hador before being subdued, but it is reported the rosh yeshiva
stated he is not feeling well and his physician was summoned…

According to Ichud Hatzalah EMT Uzi Barak a call was
received for “screams coming from the rav’s home”. He was among the first
responders on the scene. According to the information received from people
present, it appears the 28-year-old assailant did indeed strike the gadol hador
and shouted “I’ll kill you” at him R”L.

Obvioulsy this fellow is mentally disturbed. And of course the vast majority of Charedim are outraged by something like this. They
are right to be outraged –as am I.

But
one has to ask, why do things like this happen? Mental issues aside, the reason this fellow
chose that target and those actions is quite clear and has nothing to do with
his illness. This is not the first such incident. Rav Moshe Sternbuch was similarly attacked by
Charedi extremists as was Rav Elyashiv a few years ago (Extremist Charedim
threw rotten fruit at him in public because they believed he violated their
principles. He issued a lenient Psak with respect to disturbing a particular grave-site).

The answer
is unfortunately all to easy to see. They have good role models in their
own leaders. Not that any of these Charedi leaders or the vast majority of
their constituents would ever do anything like that. But the rhetoric coming
out of them about those who do not accept their principles - inspires these
extremists to act the way they do.

Most
Charedim have enough respect for the Gedolim they do not agree with to not dishonor
them this way. Or any way. But this is becoming a fine distinction that is ignored by increasing numbers of them… as things like this seem
to be happening with more frequency.

I don’t know
what it is about the holy land that pushes these extremists to cross the line.
But I do know that whatever it is, it isn’t holy.

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About Me

My outlook on Judaism is based mostly on the teachings of my primary Rebbe, Rabbi Aaron Soloveichik from whom I received my rabbinic ordination. It is also based on a search for spiritual truth. Among the various sources that put me on the right path, two great philosophic works stand out: “Halakhic Man” and “Lonely Man of Faith” authored by the pre-eminent Jewish philosopher and theologian, Rabbi, Dr. Joseph B. Soloveitchik. Of great significance is Rabbi, Dr. Norman Lamm's conceptualization and models of Torah U’Mada and Dr. Eliezer Berkovits who introduced me to the world of philosophic thought. Among my early influences were two pioneers of American Elementary Torah Chinuch, Rabbis Shmuel Kaufman and Yaakov Levi. The Yeshivos I attended were Yeshivas Telshe for early high school and more significantly, the Hebrew Theological College where for a period of ten years, my Rebbeim included such great Rabbinic figures as Rabbis Mordechai Rogov, Shmaryahu Meltzer, Yaakov Perlow, Herzl Kaplan, and Selig Starr. I also attended Roosevelt University where I received my Bachelor's Degree - majoring in Psychology.